Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[CalG]

Did your splitter come with the PTO pump, or did you add it? If you added it, where would one look for such a pump?
Taking, for example, the Powerhorse unit I mentioned (just looking at that because it's cheap) could you use a PTO pump to power that unit?

The reason I was leaning toward a 3-point splitter (aside from the engine issue) is because I think I can store it in less space, i.e., use my loader to set it on pallet rack when not in use.

Edit: Sorry for this idiotic question, obviously, you couldn't just add a PTO pump to a 3-point unit that was designed to user tractor hydraulics without adding a hydro tank for the splitter....

Google Search

Prince is the standard, but the chi-com has the price.

 

[Runner]

Google Search

Prince is the standard, but the chi-com has the price.

Thanks. After I wrote that I realized it was a dumb question, obviously the unit either has to have been made to use a PTO pump from the factory, or you would have to add a tank.

 

[Jstpssng]

There is a rule of thumb regarding pump capacity and tankage///??

I don't recall what it is at the moment.

gpm X 3??? Help me out with a pto pump.

If you go with a PTO pump, definitely get a 2 stage unit.

 

[CalG]

If you go with a PTO pump, definitely get a 2 stage unit.

I can't say that applies to the larger "Prince"units. If you have a lot of excess capacity at full pressure, a two speed pump is irrelevant.

 

[CalG]

Thanks. After I wrote that I realized it was a dumb question, obviously the unit either has to have been made to use a PTO pump from the factory, or you would have to add a tank.

There are no dumb questions.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If you go with a PTO pump, definitely get a 2 stage unit.

The pto pump on my splitter isn't 2 stage and it works great for me.

BTW, no matter if I made money with my tractor or not, I'd still have the same tractor and FORSURE the same splitter!

SR

 

[goeduck]

If you really want to speed up a 3 Pt hitch splitter, run it off a PTO hydraulic pump, rather than off of the tractor hydraulics. Most of those pumps put out FAR more flow than the tractor's rear remotes

You need a tank, or I guess you could use your tractor's tank.

 

[goeduck]

Kenny, sorry if this is the wrong thread to ask, but what brand of 3 point splitter do you have? I was looking at the Powerhorse unit from Northern Tool and all the videos I saw on that one the cycle time seemed very slow.

I also watched a video put out by Messick's saying that the reason they are slow is because of low hydro flow. I've never used one and don't know any of this first hand, so just going by research done so far.

I'm not particularly worried about hours on the tractor either because I don't have that much to split anyway.

Mine has a 2-stage pump, faster until it loads up, then automatically slower as it powers through a tough split. Most new ones are this way. Another thing you want to do is flip your control arm after a split to stop the cylinder from retracting fully. Let it go just far enough to reload. Less waiting this way and cutting uniform lengths helps here so you know where to stop. Speed can be your enemy if you like your fingers, particularly after 8 hours or more when you can get rummy. So, there is a balance as I see it. Fast enough, but not too fast.

 

[CalG]

You need a tank, or I guess you could use your tractor's tank.

Tapping into a filtered supply and an unrestricted return is not trivial.

 

[CalG]

Mine has a 2-speed pump, faster until it loads up, then automatically slower as it powers through a tough split. Most new ones are this way. Another thing you want to do is flip your control arm after a split to stop the cylinder from retracting fully. Let it go just far enough to reload. Less waiting this way and cutting uniform lengths helps here so you know where to stop. Speed can be your enemy if you like your fingers, particularly after 8 hours or more when you can get rummy. So, there is a balance as I see it. Fast enough, but not too fast.

How do you set a stop on the return stroke?

That has been a gating issue on "one man" output with my present splitter.

I put a "stop block" on the splitter rail, but it didn't last long. Hard wood, maybe I need to machine machine up a proper clamping stop,